ACEOSS THE SUB-AECTICS OF CANADA 



of floating ice, upon which it delights to lie and bask in the 

 sunshine. 



A special equipment is required for this kind of hunting. 

 It consists, besides the kyack and paddle, of a large harpoon, 

 a heavy line with box in which to coil it, a large inflated seal- 

 skin float, and a long lance. This walrus harpoon is an 

 ingeniously devised weapon, consisting of an ivory shank 

 fitted to a block of the same material by a ball and socket 

 joint. These are stiffly hinged together by stout sealskin 

 thongs, and the block is then permanently attached to a 

 wooden handle about four feet in length. The ivory shank, 

 which is about fifteen inches long, is slightly curved, and 

 tapers to a rounded point at the end remote from the handle. 

 To this point is again fitted an ivory head, about four inches 

 long, let into which is an iron or steel blade. Through the 

 centre of the ivory head a heavy line is passed and strongly 

 looped. Then, the shank and "head being in position, the line 

 is drawn tightly and fastened to the wooden handle by an 

 ivory pin and socket catch. The remaining portion of the 

 line is neatly coiled, and is provided at the end with a small 

 loop. 



The line used is that made from the skin of the square 

 flipper seal, as already described, and may be two or three 

 hundred feet in length, though sometimes not so long. The 

 line box is sim^ply a small round parchment-covered frame, 

 about the size of the lid of a cheese-box, and is fastened to 

 the top of the kyack, behind the paddler. 



The sealskin float is a peculiar-looking object, consisting 

 of the entire skin of a seal, removed from the carcase, as 

 before described, without cutting it. The hair is removed 

 from the pelt, which is then dressed as black parchment. 

 The natural opening at the mouth of the skin sack is pro- 

 vided with an ivory nozzle and plug. By blowing into the 

 nozzle the skin is inflated, and may be kept in that condition 

 by inserting the plug. At the tail-end of the float is an ivory 



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